Annual Members Meeting - Cemetery Rose

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

President’s

Message

2

Pat Frey 2

Lantern Tour

Volunteers

3

Cemetery Yews 4

Mason—New Cat 6

River Cats 7

Upcoming Tours 7

A Large Stone 8

OCCC Board 9

Annual Members Meeting MAY 2017

VOLUME VI, ISSUE 2

The annual Members Meeting will be held on Saturday, June 10 at 11:30

in the Fireman’s Plot area. All Old City Cemetery Committee mem-

bers are encouraged to attend. At the meeting, Board members will

report on the prior year’s activities and outline plans for the following

fiscal year (July—June). We will also ask members to elect individuals

to fill Board vacancies. A light lunch will be served.

Please plan to join us to learn the latest on upcoming events and activi-

ties in the Historic City Cemetery. Please RSVP by email to Connie at

[email protected] or phone 266-1013.

The business of the Old City Cemetery Committee is handled by a

Board of Directors elected from among members and by the member-

ship at our annual meeting in June. All successful organizations have a

group of individuals willing to help carry out the organization’s goals,

and our Directors work hard to support the Cemetery.

We need members willing to step up and participate as Directors.

First, what does a Director do?

Participate in any and all duties imposed on the Board as regards the

business of the OCCC.

Participate as a chair or member of one or more of the various

committees necessary to the success of the OCCC.

Participate in development and adoption of an annual budget for the

OCCC.

Participate in helping the OCCC to meet stated mission, goals and objectives.

Attend monthly Board meetings.

Directors serve three year terms, although mid-term vacancies may be

filled for a shorter period. Invitation on page 9.

OCCC Board of Directors

P A G E 2

President’s Message Volunteers are working hard to make the cemetery beautiful and their

efforts have paid off in all parts of the property with beautiful flowering

plants and weed removal. This last has not been without exemplary ef-

fort as the very rainy winter and warm spring caused even years’ old

weed seeds to germinate and appear. I want to thank all volunteer efforts

on the grounds and note that city staff are working with increasing num-

bers of Sheriff’s workers to clean out weeds, mow lawn and install chips

in plots.

June is the month our By-Laws designate for our annual members meet-

ing and I urge all members to attend. You will hear from Board Members

and volunteers who will speak of work and activities of the last year and

plans for next year. We will also elect Board members.

The Old City Cemetery Committee has undertaken several tasks includ-

ing caring for gardens and plots, researching historical events and people

and communicating the same through tours and events, and providing

information to cemetery visitors. If you or someone you know is inter-

ested in gardening, history, giving tours and related activities, please con-

sider volunteering. Just call 448-0811 or send an email to in-

[email protected] and let us know—we’ll find something for you

to do!

Connie Bettencourt, President

Old City Cemetery Committee

In Memoriam

Outstanding Cemetery volunteer Patricia Frey just 67, died at her

home in Sacramento, CA on April 24, 2017 with family at her side

after her second battle with cancer. She was survived by her hus-

band and two children, brothers, sisters and their children. She was

a native of Redwood City, who moved to Sacramento in 1975 when

she married James R. Frey and was a 35-year employee of Wells Far-

go Bank. Pat had deep interests in gardening and genealogy, and vol-

unteered at the Sacramento City Cemetery.

She worked in the Archives and Visitor’s Center. “Pat was a very easy person to have around

and I always knew that any visitor was in good hands with her.” said Jeanne Baldwin. Pat also

took photos for the Restoration Committee and inside the McCormick Mausoleum when it

was opened for cleaning. Jeanne added, “She was a delightful person and will be missed.”

Pat was a 19-year survivor of breast cancer and volunteered with the American Cancer Socie-

ty for almost 20 years. The family has requested remembrances be sent to the Cancer Soci-

ety in her name.

ANNUAL

MEMBERS

MEETING

Saturday

June 10, 2017

11:30

Fireman’s Plot

Call for Lantern Tour Volunteers

P A G E 3 V O L U M E V I , I S S U E 2

It’s that time again—no, it’s not October yet but we do need to plan for

our annual fundraiser. Volunteers are needed now for a variety of activi-

ties:

Ushers will escort guests during the tour, keeping to paved roadways

and providing assistance as needed.

Ticket-takers will greet and assist guests as they arrive. Sales – we sell cemetery tee-shirts, books and other items during the

evening.

Refreshments – light refreshments are served to guests.

Volunteer refreshments – supper is served to participants and volun-

teers are needed to help serve.

Set-up and clean-up – chairs, tables and canopies will be in place. Vol-

unteers will be needed to set out sales items, place lanterns, help ac-

tors with props, etc. We need to put items away at the end of each

evening.

Greeters – costumed volunteers meet and greet guests at the gate.

Ghouls & spirits – costumed participants will be stationed throughout

the tour route to startle guests and provide atmosphere and general

creepiness.

Actors – costumed participants will tell or act out a story along the

tour route.

Stage Show—actors, sound & lights, etc.

There will be four tours each night of two weekends—October 20-21 and

October 27-28. Volunteers are asked to spend an entire evening on site

(5:30—10:00 p.m.). Supper will be provided. Volunteers are encouraged

to dress in Victorian costume and join in the fun.

Please call 448-0811 and leave a message or send an email to

[email protected] if you wish to participate. Sign up now, the

best tasks fill up fast!

Cemetery Yews Judy Eitzen


Trees have been an important part of the landscape of rural cemeteries in America from the beginning. When

Sacramento’s Historic City Cemetery was established, it was a rural cemetery, located some two miles from the

heart of Sacramento. Over the years, the city grew and so did the many trees planted in burial plots and through-

out the cemetery.

We have seen many elm trees (Ulmus Americana) succumb to disease and be removed from the Cemetery while

Magnolias (Magnolia grandiflora) with similar lifespans remain healthy and beautiful. Working with the Sacramento

Tree Foundation, cemetery volunteers maintained an inventory of trees, surveying conditions each year until the

City Parks Department staff took responsibility for maintaining the Cemetery grounds. The last survey, taken in

2008, records more than 25 English Yews growing in the Cemetery. At that time, it was noted that some were

overcrowded and needed attention. Recently, City Parks staff have addressed these trees. While elms and mag-

nolias are great at providing shade in Sacramento’s hot (and in the 19th century, un-air-conditioned) climate, some

may question; why are yews important to the cemetery?

The English Yew (Taxus baccata) is a traditional

graveyard or cemetery tree in Europe – especial-

ly Great Britain - and has been for many centu-

ries. In fact, there are some specimens of yew in

graveyards next to Norman churches which

were planted at the time of William the Con-

queror. (Yews live a very long time.) Early pio-

neers carried the tradition West by planting

yews on graveyard plots in Sacramento.

Historical accounts give various reasons for

planting yews in graveyards. William Salmon in

Botanologia suggested that “If the Yew be set in a

place subject to poisonous vapours, the very

branches will draw and imbibe them, hence it is

conceived that the judicious in former times

planted it in churchyards on the west side…

being fuller of putrefaction and gross oleaginous

vapours exhaled out of the graves by the setting

sun.” (1) Though this hypothesis is not proven

scientifically, yew trees do provide complete shade, and, as virtually every part of the plant is toxic, falling needles

may have contributed to health and safety of early burial grounds. Yews also provide protection for buildings by

virtue of their dense canopy and many small Norman churches were constructed in the shelter of mature yew

trees. And, as churchyards were often fenced or walled, cattle and sheep were kept from nibbling on the poison-

ous trees.

Yews were also spiritual symbols as a native evergreen in the British Isles where primarily deciduous trees cov-

ered the landscape. Reverend John Collinson wrote of the churchyard of Ashill in Somerset in 1656, “Our forefa-

thers were particularly careful in preserving churchyard Yews which by reason of their perpetual verdure were

emblematical…of the immortality of the soul.” (2) Perhaps he took these sentiments from Ancient Greece where

both yew and cypress were the usual signals to denote a house in mourning. It was also considered as ‘the tree of

life’ in the Garden of Eden. (3) An early statute (1307) under Edward I was titled, ‘Ne Rector abores in Cemeterio

prosternat.’ (The Rector may not remove trees from the graveyard.) (4) The implication being that this law princi-

pally related to this species of tree and consequently that they had been planted in churchyards well before the

14th century. (Continued on page 5)


Shakespeare, in Richard II, called the yew the “double fatal yew” because the leaves of the yew are poison, and

the wood is employed for instruments of death. Some historians place yew trees in graveyards so their wood

would be available for making bows, but others state that yew wood for bows came primarily from Spain and

other European countries and is one reason these trees have vanished from much of Europe. (5) With the

above statute, it would seem that cutting graveyard yews would not be permitted, even to make bows for the

King’s use. Additionally, there were no large plantations

of yews in churchyards, just a few which are now reduced

to one or two ancient trees.

Whether it is the link to immortality – being evergreen

and long-lived – or for more practical reasons, the yew

became a tradition in American cemeteries as well.

Over the years, some of Sacramento’s cemetery yews

have succumbed to disease and been lost. Additionally,

some are crowded or were planted at the edge of a plot

or have overgrown pathways and require attention. Ad-

ditionally, English Yews, not native to our climate, may

become stressed in our hot, dry summers and conse-

quently may require additional irrigation. In her book, A

Graveyard Preservation Primer, Lynette Strangstad states,

“Choices of vegetation may reflect cultural and spiritual

beliefs, as well as illustrating various time periods.” (6) His-

toric City Cemetery yews, long-lived legacy plants, repre-

senting an early period in our history should continue to

be preserved.

___________________ 1) Botanologia; the English herbal, or, History of plants…, 1710, Printed by Ichabod Dawks, London.

2) Collinson, Reverend John, History of Somersetshire, 1795, printed by Cruttwell, Bath, England.

3) Hageneder, Fred, Yew: a history, 2011, The History Press, Stroud, UK

4) White, Gilbert, The Natural history and Antiquities of Selborne, 1789, Published by Benjamin White, London, p 325

5) Hageneder, op cit.

6) Second edition, 2013, AltaMira Press, NY, Toronto, Plymouth UK, p 2

(Continued from page 4)

Healthy yew near Restroom one year after

pruning.


MASON—NEW AT THE CEMETERY

From time to time, the Cemetery is visited by animals not part of the local ecology. Most often we find stray

cats, many of which are feral. A couple of weeks ago, City staff member, Megan Crose, noticed a cat way up in

a pine tree in Hamilton Square. It was so high that it couldn’t be reached even with the longest ladder. Megan

kept an eye on the cat which was lying on a bed of needles, not moving much, and crying for help. The cat did

not come down from the tree over a weekend and Megan knew it must be hungry and thirsty. So she enlisted

Chris (one of our Security guards) to assist. Megan took a pole saw, duct taped a bowl of food to it, and she

and Chris took it up the ladder so the food could reach the cat. The cat began to eat. Chris lowered the

bowl to the next branch and the cat followed down. They repeated lowering the bowl until the cat could be

reached and brought down from the tree.

Thin as a rail, the cat (who proved to be a he) im-

mediately demonstrated very friendly behavior –

not like a feral cat at all. He rubbed against ankles

and presented his head for scratching. Leslie Hurl-

burt says that the cat begs for attention whenever

he and his volunteers are down on the ground pull-

ing weeds.

This ginger and white cat is polydactyl – he has six

toes on his front paws. Polydactyl cats are some-

times known as “Hemingway Cats” after a colony of

cats on Ernest Hemingway’s property on an island

off Key West, Florida. Descendants of his original

polydactyl cat still live on the island. Polydactyl cats

are considered good luck at sea which may explain

why such cats can be found around the world.

Megan informally named the friendly feline,

“Mason” and he can be found most often in

Hamilton Square where he sleeps under a

rosemary shrub. He is being cared for, but

Mason needs a “furever” home.

He would also benefit from a trip to the

vet to check his health – while he appears

healthy, he probably needs an inoculation

or two. If you or someone you know is

looking for an affectionate and beautiful cat,

please let us know by calling Megan at 264-

5621 (office) or 825-9633 (cell)


RIVER CATS—PROWLING AT THE CEMETERY River Cats are committed to making a difference in our Sacramento Communities. Led by Community Rela-

tions Coordinator, Kriselle Pons and underwritten by SAFE Credit Union, employees and volunteers spend

time on projects throughout the community. Volunteers include front office employees, team players and vol-

unteers who participate in various service initiatives. On Monday, May 1, eighteen River Cats volunteers

showed up to help with the Historic Rose Garden’s first Deadheading At Dusk of the season.

Thank You, River Cats!

UPCOMING CEMETERY TOURS

May 27—Memorial Day Commemoration—This annual event is presented each year by local

veteran’s associations in conjunction with the Boy Scouts. Flags are placed on the graves of eve-

ry veteran in the cemetery—an Impressive sight. The ceremony is held near the Chapel.

June 3—The Lost Graves of New Helvetia. Explore early history and learn about those moved

to the Cemetery from the closed New Helvetia cemetery which was near Sutter’s Fort.

July 1— Cigars and Spittoons. Mark Twain once stated that you could walk from building to

building down J Street through connecting doors and never leave a saloon.

August 12—Tramps, Scamps and Vagabonds. Not all early Sacramentans were angelic.

September 2—A Dozen Ways To Die: Our Favorites from the Crypt. It’s not always easy

being dead.

September 16—From Farm to Fork to Grave. Sacramento’s early agricultural tradition some-

times led to…

Tours begin at 10 a.m. at the front gate and are free of charge. Donations are welcome

and help support the work of the OCCC. Offsite street parking is available.

A Large Stone Judy Eitzen


Have you ever noticed the large, simply dressed stone in northeast part of the cemetery? This is the Purkitt/Tiffee

memorial and deserves some attention, both for the family represented here and the stone itself.

Theodora Tiffee was born in Bloomfield in Sonoma County in 1856 and raised on a ranch in Glenn county. (1)

There she learned about agricultural pursuits – an interest she retained throughout her life. Her father encour-

aged a thorough education for his children and sent her to the Sacramento Seminary.

When she was just 17, she met George Henry Purkitt, a civil engineer and surveyor for the railroad and married

in him 1873 in Sacramento. They lived on the ranch inherited from Theodora’s father and had six children. At

some point, she and her husband were divorced, though personal and printed accounts of the day do not mention

it.(2) As George was nearly twenty years her senior, and perhaps a heavy drinker – the marriage fell apart.(3) To

better educate her children, she sold the ranch and moved to Willows, then to San Francisco where she pursued

her own further education as well.

In 1894, Theodora graduated from Cooper Medical School in San Francisco

at a time when women had fewer options for education and occupation than

today.(4) She became one of the first female physicians in California and the

first to join the California Medical Association. After graduation, Theodora

returned to Willows to practice medi-

cine.

An independent thinker (voter registra-

tions show ‘decline to state’ for party

affiliation) she never lost her love of

country life. She purchased land out-

side town and raised livestock and

practiced horticulture, primarily experi-

menting with fruit trees. Her children

were also well educated and successful.

All three daughters – Edna, Georgia

and Rebecca – became teachers. Son

Claude became an attorney who served

in the California State Senate and even-

tually became a Superior Court judge. Son Theodore was a pharmacist.

Tragically, her eldest son, Herbert, died of enteric fever – a form of typhoid

– at age 27.

Individuals buried in this plot include Theodora, her husband George and son

Herbert. Three Tiffees are also interred here, but their stories are for an-

other time.

The stone at this double plot deserves some explanation. In 1924, on the side of a railroad right of way, next to

the road in Sites,(5) a large stone lay on the ground, having fallen off a rail car some years before. John R. T. Knight

worked with his uncle Charles Lambert to remove the stone and take it to Sacramento to place on the Purkitt/

Tiffee plot. (John Knight’s grandmother was Theodora.)

As the stone was too large for the quarry or the railroad to retrieve – some 17,000 pounds - it had become a sort

of local landmark. One hot August morning, John and his Uncle Charles headed for Sites with a chain hoist and

large tripod and 100 redwood fence posts to try to move the stone to a low trailer. They were accosted by the (Continued on page 9)

Theodora Tiffee Purkitt

George Henry Purkitt

Apply to Join the OCCC Board


rancher on whose property the stone had come to

rest, but Charles convinced the rancher that the stone

was actually on the county road, had become a safety

hazard and he had permission from the County Board

of Supervisors to haul it away. He spoke with enough

authority that the rancher backed down and work

commenced.

They soon ran into difficulties, figured they needed a

hydraulic jack and were able to borrow one from a

nearby railyard. After some hard work, the stone was

loaded onto a many-wheeled low trailer. Riggers were

employed to transport the stone to Sacramento, and

did so, driving less than twenty miles per hour. (This

was 1924, remember, and roads were iffy.) As they

charged $25/hour, it became an expensive proposition. At last, the stone was conveyed into the Cemetery

on the narrow carriageway and placed carefully on the plot.

The stone includes five bronze markers commemorating those buried there and a DAR shield commemorat-

ing Theodora’s membership in that organization.

______

1) Bloomfield is a small community located in the hills west of what is now Rohnert Park.

2) 1900 US Census record lists each as “divorced” and living at different addresses in Willows, CA

3) City Cemetery burial record lists his cause of death as cirrhosis of the liver.

4) Cooper Medical School was associated with the University of the Pacific and became Stanford University Medical

School in 1909 – source: Stanford University Medical School

5) Sites is a small town in Colusa County

(Continued from page 8)

The success of any organization is due to participation by its members in fulfilling the goals of the organ-

ization. Our Mission Statement:

To join hands with the community to restore, beautify, preserve and protect the Historic City

Cemetery, while maintaining access by descendants of the deceased, and to provide educational

services to all visitors to the Historic City Cemetery of Sacramento.

We are looking for Board members willing to help us meet our goals. If you or someone you know

would like to participate in the pursuit of these goals, please let us know. Simply send your name

and contact information, together with your relevant experience—employment, interests, or special

skills. Tell us what interests you in the cemetery and in support of the Board. Where else do you

volunteer? What makes the Cemetery important to you?

[email protected] or call 916-448-0811 or send a note with this information to:

OCCC Board of Directors,

1000 Broadway, Sacramento, Ca 95618

Mission Statement

To join hands with the community to restore, beautify, preserve and protect the Historic City Cemetery, while maintaining access by descendants of the deceased, and to provide educational services to all visitors to the Historic City Cemetery of Sacramento.

Old City Cemetery

Committee, Inc.

1000 Broadway

Sacramento, CA 95818

916-448-0811

www.oldcitycemetery.com

Documents

Annual Members Meeting - Cemetery Rose